“Yeah, I’ll record it.”
Cade saw as Ash ran up to them in his fireman’s uniform that included navy cargo pants and a red tshirt, with the MSFD station 5 logo on it.
“Hey, man. Does she need any medical attention?”, Ash asked anxiously, looking Kresley over from head to toe.
“Thanks Ash, but I’m fine. No injuries. Just scared shitless is all. May need new underwear.”
Cade just shook his head at her attempt at a joke and Ash barely held in a small sound of laughter. He just nodded at her and then gave a jaunty salute to all three of them before starting back the way he came. He stopped suddenly and said to Kres, “Hey, be sure to tell your sister Francie that Ash said hey.”
“I sure will. She needs a fire lit under her”, Kresley stared with a slight grin.
“Got it. Just let me know if that’s her ass or her feet that needs igniting”, Ash said with a wink and jogged back towards his rig, not waiting for an answer.
Boomer led Cade and Kresley off to the side to stand at his squad car. He put his phone down on the hood and turned on the recording feature.
Officer Walker Collins: Today is June 12, 2019. This is an interview being conducted with Detective Cade Grantham and Ms. Kresley Anderson in reference to an unidentified victim at Fiona’s Fabrics. Ms. Kresley, can you tell me about your day today. Where did it start? What time did you arrive at Fiona’s Fabrics?
Kresley: I left Mercy Springs this morning at 9 AM for Atlanta. I had a meeting at 11 AM with a vendor that my event business was trying to hire to host weddings and such for us in the future. My meeting lasted until around 3 PM and I left to drive back to Mercy Springs.
Officer Collins: Were you alone on your trip Ms. Anderson? Did you have anyone with you at any time today.
Kresley: No. I drove alone to Atlanta. I didn’t pick up anyone or invite anyone to meet me there. I was alone in my vehicle the entire time.
Cade: Kresley, when you called me on your way home from Atlanta, you stated that you needed to stop at Fiona’s Fabrics to look at an order. Do you remember what time that was?
Kresley: [long pause] Can I look at my cell phone? It gives a time stamp of my phone calls, etc. It’ll help me figure out a timeline. I need to get it from my car.
Cade: I’ll go get it. Hang on.
[long pause in conversation]
Kresley: [opens smartphone] I had a long conversation with Cade, errrr, I mean Detective Grantham starting at 3:45 PM. I was driving through downtown Atlanta at the time and about to exit off on I-285. He and I continued to talk for another, hang on, let me look…..another 46.35 minutes. After we hung up, I pulled into the parking lot of Fiona’s Fabrics. That was about 4:35 PM. I glanced down and looked at the phone in my hand, then put it in my pocketbook.
Officer Collins: Do you remember anything from the parking lot as you parked, Kresley? Did you see anything? Anyone stand out? Any weird cars or trucks?
Kresley: No. I wish I had. I noticed the lot was mostly empty, but then figured it was because it was later in the afternoon on a usually slow day for Fiona. Her busiest times are the weekends. Well, were the busiest….I guess…oh gosh, Fiona. *quiet sobs in the background*
Officer Collins: It’s okay Kresley. I know this is hard, but we need as much info as we can get. So if you can hold off on the tears until the end, it would speed things up.
Cade: Kresley, when you got out of your car, what did you do next?
Kresley: I walked into the store and immediately noticed that it was very quiet. Usually Fiona or one of her employees yell out greetings to whoever walks inside, but there was nothing. There were no other customers there either. Just me. I walked back towards the store’s stock room, thinking they were in there and I would call out to them. I should have listened to my instinct. I should have known better. The hairs on my neck were standing straight up. They still are! See?!
Cade: Yeah, you should have listened and not walked back there. You should have call……
Officer Collins: Detective Grantham, let me continue the questions. Kresley when you went through the door of the store room, did you notice anything.
Kresley: When I went through the double doors, I saw a shadow move through the slightly open back door. I honestly couldn’t tell if it was a man or woman or if it was an adult or child. It was there and gone in just a second or two. I then noticed the lights on in the room at the back-right corner. I knew that was the break room.
Officer Collins: Okay, so when you got to the break room, then what?
Kresley: I walked inside and immediately saw….F-F-Fiona. *small sniffles* She had her hands tied behind her back with one of those zip tie thingies. There was blood there where it looked like it had rubbed her skin raw. Her eyes were open, blank. Like she was a lifeless doll. She was naked, Boomer! Naked! I could see her breasts, vagina, her damn belly button. What sick, twisted monster does that to a woman? Huh?! Her poor throat. It was slit open like some kind of gutted animal. Oh God, the blood. The blood was everywhere. I can still smell the smell, like dirty copper pennies.
Cade: Kres, calm down sweetie. Let’s just focus on the questions he asks.
Kresley: *nodding her agreement* I reached down and touched her at the side of her neck and felt for a pulse, even though I knew I was
